All About Those Legs

It's been kind of a crazy past couple days but I have been trying to still workout. Here is the one that I am going to do tonight when my husband gets home :) Good luck and let me know what you think!

Side-note: My little Charlotte has been eating like crazy the past couple days and I feel like I can't keep up! I am having to eat constantly. I try to eat healthy fats and lots of protein along with whole food carbs. It's just crazy. If any of you have some tips on how to keep up, let me know! Thanks:)

Today is all about those legs!! Get ready to feel the burn and make sure to keep good form. This is also a great workout to begin with 15-20 minutes of a HIIT workout by either running, biking, jump roping or using and elliptical (follow link to lean more about HIIT and why I do them). 

Round One:

Step Ups 15-20 each leg 

Side Step Squats 15-20 each side

Romanian Dead-lifts 15 reps (to learn how watch this video from bodybuilding.com) you can also use dumbbells or kettle bells or even start out with a broom if you are really new to them :)

Repeat 4 times

Round Two:

Reverse Lunge (to make it more difficult do it off a platform) 15-20 each leg

Plie Dumbbell Squat 20 (do a plie squat while holding a weight)

Ankle weight kickback 15-20 reps each side

kick backs

Jump Squats 5-10

Repeat 4 times

Don't forget to stretch and share this with your friends :)

Reverse Lunge

Starting Over After Having A Baby

Hello there everyone!!
I know it's been quite a while since I wrote a post and I apologize for that! As some of you may know, I recently had a little baby girl. She is 3 months old now and so much fun! I didn't have any energy or time to write, but since I have been asked by a few people when I am going to start blogging again, I figured I should probably do it :). Plus, it will give me more motivation to workout.

Charlotte

Let me tell you, working out after having a baby can be tough. It kind of feels like I am starting all over again with my workout goals. It's ridiculous how weak I am! But that is all going to change now. I am hoping we can all set some goals and work hard to be healthier and more fit.

Now like I said, I am much weaker, so my workouts are going to be easy for some of you. Just remember that you can always add more reps and weight to any move that I do.

Post Baby Workout 1

Warm up for 3 minutes

Round 1:
20-30 Walking Lunges
10 Wide Stance Squats
5 Jump Squats
Rest for 1 minute (very important)
Repeat 2-3 times

Round 2:
1 minute step ups (I step up onto my kitchen chair and I make sure yo switch which leg I step with at 30 seconds)
45 Seconds Knee Ups
Rest 1 minute
Repeat 3 times

Round 3:**
Plank until failure
Crunches until failure (make sure not to pull on your neck)
Rest 1 minute
Repeat 3 times

Make sure to stretch really good and you are done!


**Make sure to check if you have diastasis rectus. If you do, it is very important to fix it before you do these abdominal exercises. To learn how to fix it and to check if you have it go here.

Cardio and Legs

I got back on the bike today!! Yay! I have done it a couple times since being pregnant but I actually did a good workout on it today. It's a great bike and I am so glad we spent the money on it. Here is yesterday's workout that I did. I really had to force myself to workout because I waited clear until my husband was home to do it :) big mistake by me because then I just want to be with him instead. But I worked out anyway and I am so glad I did.
This workout is for me during pregnancy but just like ANY workout, it can be modified to fit your intensity level. If you are more advanced, add more reps and increase your speed.

Warm up for 5 minutes, by either walking or riding on the bike

Cardio: You can run or ride a bike here, I rode on my spin bike
Intervals:
Resting Interval 1:00 (you keep moving at a moderate pace, you don't actually REST)
Sprinting Interval 0:30 go fast and hard! Increase the tension on your bike and pedal hard (you can even stand on some parts)
Complete 12 to 15 rounds

After Riding the bike do the following leg workout (make sure you go deep!)
20 Walking Lunges (10 lunges each leg)
10 Plie Squats
10 Narrow Squats
Add some jump squats to keep the heart rate up if this isn't doing enough for you
Rest for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes
Repeat 3 to 4 Rounds

*If you aren't tired and feel like you can do more, then do!! Remember, this is for me at 5 months pregnant :)
Stretch your legs and back really well. I usually hold each stretch for 30 seconds

Work Up To It

Hello Friends! I had some requests about posting a workout for those who are beginners with working out. I do want to note that all of my workouts can be modified to fit your fitness level. To modify any of the workouts just simply decrease the time/weight/reps of any of the exercises. Go slow at first to get comfortable with the moves.
With that said, here is one that almost anyone should be able to do (if not then decrease the reps! Just make sure you are working hard). Exercise is not meant to be comfortable, but it also shouldn't be painful (as in joint pain and shooting pains). Make sure to breathe in and out with each move (inhale through nose exhale through mouth). Always keep your abs/core pulled in tight to protect your back.

Circuit One:
6-10 Slow Push-ups
10-20 Front Squats
20-30 Jumping Jacks
Rest 1 minute
Complete 3 Rounds

Circuit Two:
45 Seconds of  Front Punches (don't lock out your elbows, keep the arms strong, abs pulled in tight and slight bend in knees)
10 Lunges (each leg)
30 Seconds of Mountain Climbers
Rest 1 minute
Complete 3 Rounds

Circuit Three:
10-20 Plie (or Sumo) Squats
30 Second Plank
15 Crunches
Rest 1 minute
Complete 3 Rounds

STRETCH! And then you're done


You should advance fairly quickly from this one to my other workouts. If you have any questions/comments/requests let me know! ENJOY

Leg Burner

Hello Again! I wanted to share another workout I have done recently that made my legs BURN, in a good way of course. Check it out and let me know what you think! Also, I added pictures below the workout this time. Please scroll down to see what some of the less known ones are :)

Set 1:
20 Plie Squats with a weight of some sort (I use a kettle bell)
30 seconds of Star Jumps
10 Sideways Lunges (each leg) with a weight
Rest 1 minute
Complete 3 rounds

Set 2:
30 lunges with a weight
15-25 Scissor Jumps (always aim for higher but don't compromise form)
Rest 1 minute
Complete 3 rounds

Set 3:
20 Stability Ball Crunches
30 seconds Mountain Climbers
20 bridges or leg raises depending on what you want to work
Rest 1 minute
Complete 3 rounds

End with a jump rope interval 
Jump Rope for 1 minute
Rest for 30 seconds
Repeat 4 times

STRETCH to finish!

Pictures:

Scissor Jumps or Jump lunges

Star Jumps

Mountain climbers

Body Weight is Great

Body Weight Workout
Todays workout is one of my favorites! It is what most people call a bodyweight workout. It once again does not require a gym. All you need is YOU and a pull-up bar. Don't be afraid of pull-up bars. They are such a great way to tone your entire body.  You don't even need to be able to do them on your own to make them work. I will talk to you more about assisted pull-ups in another blog, so for now just google it. I use a chair for mine, by putting my toes on the back and edge of it. Some people use bands. One thing to remember about assisted pull-ups though, they still need to be HARD, that means, simply standing on a chair doesn't work. I want you to feel the burn with these. It is my goal to eventually do 10 full pull-ups on my own. So far I can do 2 :). 
Ok, for the exercise part. Depending on your pace this will take 35-45 min including warm-up and stretching. Take longer if you need to and give it your all! Visualize your success :)

Warm up: 2-3 Rounds
Jumping Jacks 10-20
Front Squats 10, slow and steady
push-ups (don't do your max reps, just warm up your arms, I usually do 6-8 at a slow pace)

Workout: REMEMBER!!! QUALITY BEFORE QUANTITY! 3-4 rounds

• Pull-ups to failure (remember that QUALITY IS BETTER than quantity, if your form is lacking then STOP and move to the next workout). 
• 20 DEEP, SLOW squats.  Feet hip distance apart. Knees and feet straight. Whenever you are doing squats please make sure you are doing proper form. Your knees should never go over your ankles, your abs should be engaged and your back should be straight. Your weight should also be in your heals not your toes. If you can't do them deep on your own, hold on to something in front of you to assist in balance. These will help you get a good range of motion in your hips.
• Pushups to Failure, it is different for every person but please push yourself. Make sure your abs are engaged, back is straight and neck in a neutral position. If you're bobbing your neck up and down then you are doing it wrong. If your back is arched or curved too much then you are doing it wrong. It takes practice, but you must train your body from the beginning to do it RIGHT. 
• Lunges 10 each leg. Do these slow and steady. DO NOT project your knee past your ankle and make sure you keep your abs and back engaged and straight. We are not going for speed, we are going for strength in this workout.
• 30 Seconds of mountain climbers, keep your butt down, back straight and core engaged
• REST for 1 minute
• Substitute for pull-ups: inverted rows or chair dips (please get a pull-up bar asap though! They aren't expensive and work great!).

Abs: 2-3 rounds (if you're not feeling really tired do 3 and increase your time on Planks) do not lay down if you're heart is going fast. Let it slow down first then go on to these.

• Forearm Planks: 30 seconds to 90 seconds (work up to it) like always, keep your back straight, butt down, and abs engaged.
• Bridges: 15 to 20 reps (engage that core!) squeeze that butt and thighs, knees and feet hip distance apart, don't let them touch and keep them as still as you can and go slow.
• Leg Raises on the Floor: 15 reps

Stretching and Cooling Down
Please let your heart rate decrease before you sit or lay down. After you cool a little bit make sure to stretch very well. That includes: back, quads, hamstrings, arms, shoulders, chest, wrists, and neck. Make sure you take care of those muscles!

And you're done! Make sure you push yourself but please please please don't compromise form for just one more push up or pull up, etc. I cannot stress the importance of form enough. I will be posting pictures for you to follow here shortly, I just need my husband home so he can take them :) I hope you enjoyed this workout! Body weight is great huh?